The last post we gave you the opportunity to review attention and intention posts and just briefly mentioned repetition. These three key legs are what support a good practice.
Some people balk at this work practice but let me tell you why we use it. Jesus as an example had a practice of pulling away from the crowds and heading to the mountains, desert or water. This practice was for apparently a number of things… but what is important is that the Gospels make clear this rhythm of “awayness” funded him being in a different way. In other words awayness changed his withness. Practice patterns fund life patterns. Practice enables us to do through training what we simply can’t accomplish through trying.
If that is the why let’s be reminded what practice is… Transformative practices are any activities internal or external you engage in for the purpose of shifting the way you see and make meaning of yourself, God, others and the world.
In other words practices that move you from autopilot to awake, or from being hypnotized to aware…. Any of those are transformative practices.
When Jesus stopped the disciples walking along the road and said “hey, soil check here. Have you noticed the various kinds of soil that exist and how seed reacts and responds differently on each?” Or when he said “time out… thought about lilies in that pond over there…” Jesus was moving the disciples off there “coasting through life” speed and slowing things down and teaching them awareness.
I am doing more and more consciousness shifting, awareness and breath practices we with church staff trainings and at our one day Velocity Learning Conversations.
But there are other things as well.
What are you doing that brings a definite shift in your awareness or moves you from autopilot to awake?
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Doing Meaningful conversation on purpose. It brings such a clarity to me and a excitement about entering into the mystery of God. Also reading Peter Rollins’ The Orthodox Heretic and other impossible tales. And don’t forget (like you mentioned) breathing exercises.
Love the blog!!!